Faraz Khandaker glides in for two of his 18. (Photo by Duane Barker)
By Joe Torosian
(Azusa)— Brentwood’s Braelee Albert’s three-pointer as time expired lifted the Brentwood Eagles to a 55-54 victory over the Burbank Bulldogs in the CIF Division 3AA Boys Final Friday night at the Felix Event Center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University.
The Eagles let an 11-point lead slip away in the fourth period. Then saw the Bulldogs Cameron Sweeten tie the game with a layup at the end of regulation, before Albert’s desperation three-pointer from 25-feet gave the CIF title to Brentwood.
Albert, only a sophomore, finished with 27-points and 11-rebounds for the Eagles. Teammate and fellow sophomore, Eric Olofson added 14.
Michael Woods worked hard to keep the Bulldogs close. (Photo by Duane Barker)
Burbank, which struggled offensively for most of the night, was led by Faraz Khandaker’s 18 points and Michael Wood’s 10-points and 10-rebounds. The Bulldogs were only 19 of 62 from the field (30.6%) and just six of 26 from beyond the arc.
Burbank built an early 12-6 lead but slowly saw it melt away. Brentwood closed the gap to 12-10 at the end of one, and the contest was a 20-20 tie at the end of the first half.
In the third quarter, the Eagles took control. Outscoring the Bulldogs 15-9, they used solid offensive sets with Albert and Olofson doing most of the damage. Burbank couldn’t get an offensive rhythm and was forced to launch, continually, from the outside.
With 3:30 to play in the third, Henrik Anassian knocked down a pair of free throws to give Burbank a 29-27 advantage. They wouldn’t score again for another 7:58 (nearly an entire quarter) as Brentwood went to work and built a 39-29 and eventual 43-32 lead.
After Brentwood’s Samuel Clareman stole a pass and converted a layup, it was 45-34 with 3:17 on the fourth quarter clock.
But that score was followed by a pair of threes from Burbank to narrow the gap. Cameron Sweeten made a three-point play, and it was 45-43. Albert answered with a score down low. The Bulldogs Sweeten scored once and then with zero time left scored again to send it into overtime.
In OT, Burbank jumped to a 50-47 lead before the Eagles Finnley O’Rourke scored on a put-back. Albert added a free throw, and 30-seconds later added another bucket to make it 52-50 in favor of Brentwood with 1:14 remaining.
Khandaker put the Bulldogs back up with a three-point play, Burbank added another free throw…but missed its next four from the charity stripe to set up Alberts heroics.
In think it’s titled Maranatha Rattled by Rancho Verde. Knock yourself out on that thread.
@Minute man
There’s a thread for Maranatha leave your comments there
If anyone is going to come on here and expect recognition for their efforts in the playoffs, it should be MARANATHA, not Gabrielino. Instead, all we hear are the cries of commenter GAB, telling us how swell his Eagles are for losing to champ Brentwood in the first round. This would be funny if it weren’t so disgustingly sad.
Furthermore coach Mac used the better players on the team as targets. Instead of entrusting them to lead the team he made kids captains who worked hard but weren’t necessarily leaders, putting everyone in limbo. If your best players are the hardest workers that’s a coaches dream for captains. But he also bad mouthed his better athletes to their teammates behind their backs a clear sign that he himself was a horrible leader. Some men aren’t meant to lead im sure coach Mac knows his football but he couldn’t lead in a one man race.
@AirAttack
That’s exactly what got you ran from you previous job. Brothers
Gab, you guys should be proud of your accomplishments in league however you can’t beg for acclaim if you don’t deliver in the post season.
I always wondered how and why if Arroyo is so dominant in football why do they absolutely suck at basketball? I know they have a great football staff add that to being 50% bigger in terms of population than every other school in league that equation produces dominance year in and year out. But shouldn’t those numbers transfer to basketball as well? It is the same school after all. Kinda puzzling.
As for El Monte Football… I’ve read so many posts about Sanchez undermining Mac and his staff. But in reality Coach Mac spent so much time bad mouthing the previous staff and it turned into the ultimate “mass macho” contest. Here’s a tip to the new coach who comes in or any coach taking over a program. If you need to bad mouth the previous staff to elevate yourself you’re a loser. If you waste precious time ridiculing the previous coach you’re a loser. If you lead a team on your own merits then you probably shouldn’t be a head coach. No matter how bad the previous coach was the kids probably loved and respected him. If you’re that coach who needs to manipulate young minds in that negative way what are you doing leading young men? You team should inherit your DNA when you get on campus and even if there’s resistance your DNA should win them over. Two things will happen 1. The kids buy into your program learning to love and respect you as they did they’re previous coach or 2. You force your negative propaganda down their throats and they’ll never trust you… they’ll play for you but they’ll never trust you.
@downey
We’ve more than a few kid! I’m not pounding my chest for anything genius… I’m pointing out if we lose we lose to the champs! What’s wrong with that? How does that invite Downey to comment?
@AirAttack
Stop already, your a POS. A little brain in a big body. You think too highly of yourself. Hide behind these posts with no b…..
Gab, you lost by 20! Stop already. What a great game last night! #1 for Brentwood is very good.
@gab
Win a few in the post season….i am not the one on here pounding my chest cause you win league….so again shhhhh
@Downey Faithful
And you didn’t win league… so you can Shhh
I’m just pointing out that it takes a really good team to beat the Eagles. Go TONGVA!
@gab
Please stop….congrats you won league…but 1 and done…shhhhh season over
Another team that beats Gabrielino and goes on to win CIF!